Can't Go Back
Former Vandal Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Death came too quickly
Knee-deep in your memory
Guess you're really gone
The fallout is still coming
It won't stop for anything
We keep pushing on

Rise up and fight fate

You can't go back
You can't kill the past
And, no, you can't go back and save the dead
Or let the ashes build up in your head
If you wanna fight, don't let those who died die for nothing
鈥楥ause you can't go back

(鈥楥ause you can't go back)
We tread too lightly
Well, they won't get the best of me
This is where it starts
We are scarred, but not dying
They've burnt every part of me

From the ashes, rise

Rise up and fight
You can't go back
You can't kill the past
And, no, you can't go back and save the dead
Or let the ashes build up in your head
If you wanna fight, don't let those who died die for nothing

鈥楥ause you can't go back
(鈥楥ause you can't go back)
And the skeletons that live in our heads

Are the monsters that lie beneath our beds
And we'll rest when we're dead
But we'll take these demons with us
And we'll rest when we're dead
So rise up and right because you can't go back
You can't kill the past
And, no, you can't go back and save the dead
Or let the ashes build up in your head
If you wanna fight, don't let those who died die for nothing
鈥楥ause you can't go back
(鈥楥ause you can't go back)
And we'll rest when we're dead
But we'll take these demons with us
And we'll rest when we're dead
But we'll take these demons with us




And we'll rest when we're dead
But we'll take...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Former Vandal's song Can't Go Back convey several complex ideas about the past, memories, and the importance of moving forward despite difficult circumstances. The opening lines, "Death came too quickly / Knee-deep in your memory / Guess you're really gone / The fallout is still coming," suggest the singer is grappling with the sudden loss of someone important from their past. The use of the phrase "knee-deep" reinforces the idea that these memories are difficult to overcome, but the "fallout" also implies a sense of ongoing struggle.


The chorus of the song, "You can't go back / You can't kill the past / And, no, you can't go back and save the dead / Or let the ashes build up in your head," reinforces the idea that the past can't be undone or rewritten, no matter how much we might wish otherwise. The use of the metaphor of "ashes" in the last line suggests that the singer is carrying a heavy burden of regret or guilt over things that can't be changed.


The final lines of the song, "And we'll rest when we're dead / But we'll take these demons with us / And we'll rest when we're dead / But we'll take..." suggest a sense of determination and resilience in the face of adversity. The repeating phrase "And we'll rest when we're dead" implies that the singer is willing to keep fighting until the bitter end, and that they will carry the lessons they've learned and the demons they've faced with them to the grave.


Overall, the lyrics to Can't Go Back convey a powerful message about the importance of letting go of the past, learning from our mistakes, and moving forward with our lives. Through their use of vivid imagery and compelling language, Former Vandal encourages listeners to embrace the challenges of the present rather than being held back by the ghosts of the past.


Line by Line Meaning

Death came too quickly
Loss and death often come unexpectedly and quickly, leaving us with no time to prepare or come to terms with it.


Knee-deep in your memory
Memories can be overwhelming, forcing you to wade through them to find a way forward.


Guess you're really gone
The harsh reality of loss sinks in, leaving no room for denial or hope for a change.


The fallout is still coming
The aftermath of an event can go on for a long time, affecting everything and everyone involved.


It won't stop for anything
The consequences of a situation cannot be avoided, ignored, or wished away, no matter how hard we try.


We keep pushing on
Despite the pain and struggle, we continue to move forward and survive because there's no other choice.


Rise up and fight fate
We can't control what fate has in store for us, but we can choose to face it head-on and fight back.


You can't go back
The past cannot be changed, no matter how much we wish it to be different, and we must accept and move forward from it.


You can't kill the past
The past will always exist as a part of us, and attempting to erase it only causes more harm than good.


And, no, you can't go back and save the dead
Once someone is gone, we cannot go back in time and change what has happened, no matter how much we wish we could.


Or let the ashes build up in your head
Allowing grief and negative thoughts to consume us will only weigh us down and make it harder to move forward.


If you wanna fight, don't let those who died die for nothing
We can honor the memories of those we've lost by continuing to fight for what they believed in and standing up for what is right.


鈥楥ause you can't go back
Reinforcing the idea that dwelling on the past and wishing for change will not help us move forward.


We tread too lightly
We often hesitate and hold back out of fear, when we should be taking bold steps forward instead.


Well, they won't get the best of me
We refuse to let the negativity and hardships of life break us or hold us down.


This is where it starts
We must face our problems head-on and start taking action to create change and move forward.


We are scarred, but not dying
Our past experiences leave lasting scars, but they do not define us or lessen our ability to keep going.


They've burnt every part of me
Trauma and hardship can feel all-consuming, leaving little of us untouched or unaffected.


From the ashes, rise
We can use our experiences and hardships as fuel to rise up and become stronger, rather than being consumed by them.


And the skeletons that live in our heads
Our negative thoughts and memories can feel like skeletons or monsters haunting us from inside our own minds.


Are the monsters that lie beneath our beds
Just as we fear monsters hiding under our beds, we also fear the demons within us that can hold us back and cause us to stumble.


And we'll rest when we're dead
Only in death can we truly find peace and rest from the struggles of life.


But we'll take these demons with us
Our past experiences and negative thoughts will stay with us even after we die, reminding us of the battles we've fought and the strength we've gained.




Contributed by Callie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Kitsune Rokaku

Amazing song! Great video! You sir are awesome!

Bring on Season Four! WE CAN'T GO BACK!

Myosotis Arvencis

This video was really awesome! Your music is seriously so awesome

Mariam Hussein

Holy crap that was amazing and was perfect. The lyrics are really about teen wolf and go in deapth of it. One of the best songs I have heard. AMAZING JOB

meghan7474

This was soo good!! I wish they would play this on the show, because you have talent!! Anyone want to do a fan video for this because that would be awesome. If it's okay with the artist of course :)

Sara Esposito

This song gives me the chills, really; the lyrics are so meaningful!
And your voice is just amazing!

Good job!

Aristurtle

Thanks for making some of my favourite TW songs! This and 'War' are my ultimate Teen Wolf songs :)

Chelsi

I LOVE this! 馃槏
Amazing job once AGAIN.
Keep up the good work.
All the work you do is amazing really! 馃槃

Jasmin Johansen

I love this! It's a really good song! :) I can't stop hearing it! :)

total weirdness

Every time i see these teen wolf inspired songs by them i start crying. All of them are so perfect. I LOVE Former Vandal.

total weirdness

Me too! :(

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